Nervous about buying a Prius

I don't have the bandwidth right now to give you a full reply but see Lifespan/Operating costs - Prius Wiki, for starters. In particular, you might be interested in looking at the recent Priuses at Advanced Vehicle Testing Activity - Hybrid Electric Vehicles along w/2 fas 4 u's adventures on his 09 Prius, now past 451K miles.

The "CVT" (power split device) in the Prius is mechanically simpler than an automatic transmission w/only a single planetary gearset and has no internal clutches, bands, tiny fluid passages, etc. You can a see a pic at http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...nventional-auto-transmission.html#post1416075 and some I took at https://picasaweb.google.com/105684...authkey=Gv1sRgCILH8tvp-8_pjQE&feat=directlink.

You can see a bunch of other transmissions I took pics of at two different Tokyo Motor Shows at:
https://picasaweb.google.com/105684...authkey=Gv1sRgCJ3aqv3yvIb-zQE&feat=directlink and https://picasaweb.google.com/105684...authkey=Gv1sRgCLyZ2MT70fekggE&feat=directlink. Might be best to view them in full-screen mode.

The Prius also has no timing belt, no alternator and no starter motor. 3rd gen Prius also has no "drive" belts and the brakes last forever due to regen.

IMHO, 400K miles is w/o a major failure of some sort would be pressing your luck. It's possible but I wouldn't be surprised if you need a new HV battery somewhere past 150K miles. I don't know if your area is hilly but I don't consider the Philly area to be a hot climate (vs. say Arizona). I'd say the chances of an HV battery failure seems to increase if one lives in a hilly area that's also hot.

 

A 2009 has been proven to go 450,000 and counting miles with modest maintenance and no major failures. Start looking for a lightly used 2009. Since 2010 was a redesign with a different motor and different HV battery cells with higher power factor, long term reliability has not been established for 10-12. What you give up in slightly less good MPG with an '09, you will recoup in terms of lower purchase price and potentially far fewer repairs.

It's too bad you are in PA, I would make you an offer on the Camry.

 

I have put 84,000 miles on my 2009 Prius with no issues not caused by hitting things. I like it a lot, but have made a post outlining who should NOT own a Prius.

http://priuschat.com/forums/newbie-forum/94450-considering-prius.html#post1334003

 

I also live in the Philly area so I do much of the same driving as you - the Prius makes a whole lot of sense for you with the amount of driving that you do.

I have an 09 (purchased in October 2008) with about 67k miles and I have done nothing more than the standard maintenance (oil changes, tire rotation etc) and a new set of tires.

The only thing that I would say is that expecting any car to make it to 400k is a real stretch. That is pushing it to the extreme and I do not think that anyone would make that guarantee about any car. There are a few folks here that drive a Prius as a taxi and they seem to be getting high miles and they are likely far harder on their cars than you would be. However looking to make it past 100k without a major repair seems like a pretty reasonable expectation. You never know, but I think that you are as likley to do it in a Prius as you are in any car.

That being said, Toyota has a well earned reputation for reliability and the Prius has proven itself over the past 10+ years as well. If I were you I would buy a Prius without a second thought. Treat it well and hopefully you will be able to take a run at 400k.

 

See post #1 and then skip to last few pages of this long, on going thread:

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-prius-main-forum/79235-299-999-mile-club.html

 

All the above replies are priceless, as is this forum! Buy a Prius and read the forum regularly. I now have 103,000 miles on my 2005 and have full confidence in the car. I just came back from Las Vegas yesterday. It helps to attune your thinking to thinking electrically and be conversant with such terms as voltage, current drain, load and most important! The 12 volt battery. I was in Electronics for many years so the transition was not difficult for me, but still had to think in terms of digital. Again the 12 Volt battery is probably our biggest problem post. The hybrid and the EV are definitely the wave of the future and will continue to attract for many years. Glad to hear that you are so overjoyed with the rental Prius. MPG is obviously the main reason people are buying but there is an added benefit, go to the rear of a Prius and try to smear some carbon off the tailpipie onto your finger. Absolutely clean! No carbon! No pollution. Buy a Prius and have fun. AND... buy a multimeter!

 

One thing that I've noticed with driving my new '11 is that my driving style has changed significantly (for the better). I have to believe that driving more 'conservatively' will yield a longer life span for any car. Regardless, that I now drive a Prius.

 

Owning a Prius is a surreal experience. The first time the engine shut off and i drove it away, I thought the car stalled on me. Lol. Whichever your decision, may you enjoy your ride.

 

well the renting is the least economical, so the choice is really between either keeping old Camry or buying new Prius.

Per fueleconomy.gov at 35K a year Camry gas is $4,915 and Prius is $2,261, or $221/mo. The 2,000 tranny fix cost is ~$42/mo spread over 4 years, if you Camry will last that long. $84/mo if it lasts 2 years. So basically $137/mo are buying your a new car.

This is without maintenance costs as they will be lower on new car, for at least for 4-5 years while you are paying it off. @ 70K on 2 year old Prius, there weren't that many maintenance costs besides new tires and oil changes. Brakes will go at least 2-3 times of that before new pads are needed.

A co-worker at work has a '06 Prius with 250K w/o any problems; expect mine to do at least as much. Of cause the traction battery cost and longevity is a question, but the battery can be rebuild, and Prius is main stream, there will be plenty recycled modules down the road if needed. Plus batteries are getting cheaper.

 

From a mechanical standpoint, the Prius doesn't have a CVT. It doesn't even have a transmission in the conventional sense where you can shift gears, automatically or manually. It has fixed gears.

You won't find a mechanically simpler vehicle. Really the only worrisome thing about a Prius from a maintenance standpoint is that it contains some high-priced electronics. They are very, very reliable, but if one fails it can be expensive. On the other hand, this is also true with most other modern cars.

Tom

 

Who the hell expects to get four hundred thousand miles from *any* car? But there's probably as good a chance of it with a Prius as with any other.

 

If your rental Prius is 2010 or later and has been maintained by Toyota, it already is using synthetic oil. Also, unless it is a five with 17" wheels, it's already running 15" wheels with LRR tires.

If you've found that the rental Prius has met your work needs (cargo, passengers, comfort, customer acceptance, etc.), I don't think you'll find a better vehicle for your needs. There are other more luxe rides and those with more cargo capacity, but if those aren't important or necessary to you, why bother. I think the other posters have done a good job explaining the mechanical aspects or the decision.

 

how many miles did the camry go before the first major repair?

 

It's an excellent car, but I'd avoid buying one until the "knocking on start up" issue has been resolved with a TSB, and you're sure the one you're getting doesn't have the problem.

 

There is a TSB, but applies only in cold weather apparently.

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...n-engine-knocking-startup-t-sb-0204-11-a.html

 

I would do it. My 2010 has 30,000 miles on it and runs flawlessly giving a LMPG of 57. The eCVT as it is called is really a modified differential with 3 sources of energy driving it. No reliability problems there. The engines have been extremely reliable. The Hybrid battery packs suffers more from nonuse, than overuse which would seem to be your MO. Sounds to me like a good fit for you.

 

I'd go for the Prius. You have this website to anticipate, and if necessary solve virtually any problem. I am qualified to comment because I lived in South Jersey outside of Philly for 25-years. Well, it can be as hot and humid in the summer as Texas, right? But that's no matter, use your air cond to cool yourself and the HEV batts. You will improve air quality in South Jersey, too.